TRAPPED BY FLAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 107, 8 May 1934, Page 4

TRAPPED BY FLAMES

TWO WOMEN PERISH ' FIRE AT BLOOMFIELD RELATIVES IN WANGANUI. I Per Press Association. ) DANNEVIRKE, May 7. A double tragedy occurred at about 8.3 U o’clock at Bloomfield, near Three Point, last night, when a well-known settler, Mrs. Ellen Franklin, aged 76, and her lady companion. Miss Smale (aged about 40), perished in a fire which destroyed the house occupied by them. The fire was discovered by a neighbour named Churchouse, who lives opposite. He hurried to the house, which wm situated on a hill about 300 yards from the road, and gained entry to Mrs. Franklin’s bedroom, but failed to discover her. He was unable to gain access to any other part of the building owing to the raging flames and intense smoke, and nothing further could be done to help. This morning the bodies of Mrs. Franklin and Miss Smale were found lying in the passageway, one at either end. The former was a widow had x resided in the house in which she met her death tor the past 46 years, and had lived her lite in the Wairarapa, Herbertville, and Wimbledon before taking up residence at Bloomfieid. Miss Smale had not long been in her present position, having conic here from Auckland. She is believed to have a sister residing in Wanganui. Mrs. Franklin leaves a family of five sons, all wellknown settlers, and a married daughtov, Mrs. Young, residing at Woodville. An inquest will be held. Mrs. Franklin was the mother of Mr. J. K. Franklin, St. John’s Hill, and Miss Smale was a sister of Mrs. Roland Garrett. Durie Hill. Standing in silence, members of the executive of the Wanganui Aero Club passed a motion of condolence with Mr. J. R. Franklin, at a meeting last night.